President William Ruto, on Wednesday, May 17, suspended Kenya Bureau of Standards Managing Director, Bernard Njiraini and other state employees at Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the National Police Service (NPS) among others.
In a press release issued by State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohamed, Ruto's Chief of Staff, Felix Koskei, accused the 27 state employees of releasing condemned sugar unfit for consumption.
"In recognition of the unique mandate of the agencies as vanguards of public health and safety, it is manifest that some officers in the relevant agencies abdicated their responsibilities, at the risk of public harm.
"Consequently, it is noted that the Cabinet Secretaries for National Treasury and Economic Planning, and Investments, Trade and Industry, have sanctioned administrative action to suspend the officers pending investigations," Koskei stated.
According to Koskei, Ruto was briefed on the grievous accusations of the irregular and criminal release of condemned sugar scheduled for conversion into industrial ethanol.
The sugar consignment comprising 20,000 bags (each 50kgs), had been imported into the country in the year 2018 and condemned by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) for want of expiry date specification.
A multi-agency unit comprising KEBS and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) was to oversee the ethanol conversion
"The condition precedent to the conversion were; involvement of all the concerned regulatory agencies; sourcing a distiller through an open and competitive tendering process; and securing the payment of applicable taxes and statutory fees.
"It has since been established that the consignment was irregularly diverted and unprocedurally released. Further, the conditions relating to open and competitive enlisting of the distiller were breached and the applicable taxes were not paid," Koskei divulged.
Ruto ordered the consignment to be reshipped and destroyed at the owner's cost.
The suspended officials included;
Kenya Bureau of Standards
Lt. Col (Rtd) Bernard Njiraini, the Managing Director
Dr. Geoffrey Muriira, Director Quality Assurance and Inspection
Hilda Keror, Manager Inspection, Mombasa Port Office
Liston Lagat, Assistant Manager, Inland Container Depot Nairobi (ICDN)
Rono Birgen Chief Manager, ICDN Nairobi
Stephen Owuor, Principal Officer
Peter Olima Joseph - Inspector, Mombasa,
Kenya Revenue Authority
Joseph Kaguru
Stephen Muiruri
Mwanja Masinde
Moses Okoth
Chacha Hondo
Doris Mutembei
Carol Nyagechi Derick Kago
National Police Service
George Mithamo
Joel Kirui
Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI)
Bernard Ngumbi
Raphael Mwaka
Agriculture and Food Authority (AFA)
Oscar Kai
Patrick Magut
Joseph Maita Mweni (Port Health),
Isacko Bonai (NEMA)
Stephen Cheruiyot (Anti-Counterfeit Agency)
Daniel Ngugi Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate (KEPHIS)
J. Willy Koskei Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC)
K. Edwin Ruto Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)
The suspensions came in the backdrop of sugar prices rising up to Ksh430 for 2 kgs across various supermarkets. Despite the government allowing importation of duty free sugar, the commodity rose by Ksh100 in one week leading to an uproar from Kenyans.
Ruto also recently suspended former Health Permanent Secretary, Josephine Mburu, over a Ksh3.7 billion mosquito net scandal. The head of state further reshuffled PSs as he stamped authority nine months into his first term.
In a statement signed by Koskei, Ruto also revoked the appointment of Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA) chairperson and dissolved the entire board. The Head of State subsequently appointed Irungu Nyakera as new KEMSA chairperson.
Reading the riot act, Ruto stated, "The Administration will spare no effort in rebuilding the KEMSA supply chain management system so as to secure efficiency and accountability in the provision of medical supplies to all health facilities across our nation."
